Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Estimation of internal nutrient release in large shallow Lake Taihu, China

  • Published:
Science in China Series D Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Based on field investigation of wave, sediment suspension and the changes in nutrient concentration of the water column in Lake Taihu, China, we proposed two release models to quantify nutrient release under static and dynamic conditions, respectively. Under static conditions, nutrient release from sediments to the overlying water mainly depends on chemical diffusion induced by concentration gradient, in which the nutrient release is controlled by the temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration in the sediment-water interface, oxidation-reduction potential and the concentration difference between porewater and overlying water. Under dynamic condition (or disturbed condition), both dissolved and particulate nutrients in sediments are released into the water column because of wind-induced sediment suspension. The amount of nutrient release under dynamic conditions is larger than that under the static condition. The release of dissolved nutrients, however, does not increase because the wind induced turbulence made oxidation of metallic elements such as Fe (ferric iron), Mn which are capable of precipitating soluble reactive phosphate (SRP). Under dynamic conditions, therefore, the release of total phosphorus (TP) increases dramatically but the release of SRP is close to those under static conditions. In sediments of Lake Taihu, high Fe content leads to a high ratio of Fe to P contents in sediments (Fe:P ratio). Under dynamic conditions, therefore, nutrient release is controlled by the intensity of disturbance, sediment consolidation and nutrient content in sediments. As for dissolved nutrients, especially SRP, the release is also controlled by the intensity of dynamic re-oxidation, Fe content in sediments and nutrient concentration gradient between porewater and overlying water. Based on these two release modes, the release flux in Lake Taihu has been estimated. In the static condition (i.e. laboratory experimental condition), total release of NH4 +-N for whole lake is ca. 10,000 ton/a, and PO4 3−-P is ca. 900 ton/a. In the dynamic condition, nutrient release following sediment suspension was estimated according to three different intensities of wind forcing which were defined as “calm” (wind speed is less than 2 m/s), “gentle” (wind speed is greater than 2 m/s and less than 6 m/s) and “gust” (wind speed is greater than 6 m/s). The release rate in the condition of “calm” was estimated in terms of the nutrient release in the laboratory experimental static condition; whereas the release rate in conditions of “gentle” and “gust” was estimated in terms of measurement during sediment resuspension conducted in flume experiments. With the observation of wind velocity and frequency in 2001, each type of wind forcing took the frequency of 12%, 82% and 6% for “calm”, “gentle” and “gust”, respectively. The yearly release of nitrogen was 81,000 ton and phosphorus was 21,000 ton, which is about 2–6 folds of annual external loading, respectively.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Mortimer, C. H., The exchange of dissolved substances between mud and water in lakes, Internal Journal of Ecology, 1941, 29: 280–329.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Mortimer, C. H., Chemical Exchanges between Sediments and Water in the Great Lakes — Speculations on probable regulatory mechanisms, Limnology and Oceanography, 1971, 16: 387–404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Wetzel, R. G., Limnology: Lake and River Ecosystems (Third Edition), London: Academy Press, 2001, 245–260.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Pu, P. M., Wang, G. X., Hu, C. H. et al., Can we control lake eutrophication by dredging? Journal of Lake Science (in Chinese with English abstract), 2000, 12: 269–279.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Qin, B. Q., Hu, W. P., Chen, W.M., Process and Mechanism of Environment Changes of the Lake Taihu (in Chinese), Beijing: Science Press, 2004, 1–2.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Sun, S. C., Huang, Y.P., Lake Taihu (in Chinese with English abstract), Beijing: Ocean Press, 1993, 4–21.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Nanjing Institute of Geography, Academia Sinica, The Synthetic Investigation Report of Lake Taihu (in Chinese), Beijing: Science Press, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Huang, Y. P., Fan, C. X., Yuan, J. X. et al., Study on the water quality status in Taihu Lake and its future trends, Memoirs of Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology (ed. Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Academia Sinica) (in Chinese with English abstract), Beijing: Science Press, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Chen, Y. W., Qin, B. Q., Teubner, K. et al., Long-term dynamics of phytoplankton assemblages: Microcystis-domination in a large shallow lake in China, Journal of Plankton Research, 2003, 25: 445–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Huang, X. F., Chen, W. M., Cai, Q. M., Survey, observation and analysis of lake ecology (in Chinese), Beijing: Standard Press of China, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Jin, X. C., Tu, Q. Y., Standards for Lake eutrophication Investigation (in Chinese), Beijing: China Environmental Science Press, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Qin, B. Q., Hu, W. P., Gao, G. et al., Dynamics of sediment resuspension and the conceptual schema of nutrient release in the large shallow Lake Taihu, China, Chinese Science Bulletin, 2004, 49(1): 54–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Luo, L. C., Qin, B. Q., Hu, W. P. et al., Wave characteristics in Lake Taihu, Journal of Hydrodynamics, 2004, 19(5): 662–670.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Luo, L. C., Qin, B. Q., Zhu, G. W. et al., Sediment distribution pattern mapped from the combination of objective analysis and geostatistics in the large shallow lake, China, Journal of Environmental Sciences, 2004, 16(6): 908–911.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Luo, L. C., Qin, B. Q., Zhu, G. W. et al., Nutrient flux induced by distarbanse in Meiliang Bay of Lake Taihu, Science in China, Ser. D, 2006, 49(Supp. I): 186–192.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Zhu, G., Hydrodynamics and the internal loading of phosphorus in shallow lakes, postdoctoral report, Nanjing Institute of Geography & Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (in Chinese with English abstract), 2003, 65–67.

  17. Reddy, K. R., Fisher, M. M., Ivanoff, D., Resuspension and diffusive flux of nitrogen and phosphorus in a hypereutrophic lake, Journal of Environmental Quality, 1996, 25: 363–371.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Søndergaard, M., Kristensen, P., Jeppesen, E., Phosphorus release from resuspended sediment in the shallow and wind-exposed Lake Arreso, Demark, Hydrobiologia, 1992, 228: 91–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Kristensen, P. M., Søndergaard, M., Jeppesen, E., Resuspension in a shallow lake, Hydrobiologia, 1992, 228: 101–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Zhang, L., Fan, C. X., Qin, B. Q. et al., Phosphorus release and absorption of surficial sediments in Taihu Lake under simulative disturbing conditions, Journal of Lake Sciences (in Chinese with English abstract), 2001, 13: 35–42.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Fan, C. X., Physicochemical characteristics of sediments in Gehu Lake and simulation of its phosphorus release, Journal of Lake Sciences (in Chinese with English abstract), 1995, 7: 341–350.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Wang, T. J., Su, R., Jin, X. C. et al., The effects to water quality of phosphorus loading and its release in the sediments of urban eutrophic lakes, Environmental Science Research (in Chinese with English abstract), 1994, 7: 12–19.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Moore, J. P. A., Reddy, K. R., Role of Eh and pH on phosphorus geochemistry in sediments of Lake Okeechobee, Florida, Journal of Environmental Quality, 1994, 23: 955–964.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Gachter, R., Meyer, R. S., Mares, R., Contribution of bacteria to release and fixation of phosphorus in lake sediments, Limnology and Oceanography, 1988, 33: 1542–1558.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Hohener, P., Gachter, R., Nitrogen cycling across the sediment-water interface in an eutrophic, artificially oxygenated lake, Aquatic Science, 1994, 56: 115–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Yu, Y. S., Sediments and their relationship to eutrophication in Lake Taihu, China, Memoirs of Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology (in Chinese with English abstract) (ed. Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology), Beijing: Science Press, 1994, 9: 48–61.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Jensen, H. S., Kristensen, P., Jeppesen, E. et al., Iron:phosphorus ratio in surface sediment as an indicator of phosphate release from aerobic sediments in shallow lakes, Hydrobiologia, 1992, 235/236: 731–743.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanjing Institute of Geography & Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China

    Qin Boqiang, Zhu Guangwei, Zhang Lu, Luo Liancong & Gao Guang

  2. Everglades Department, South Florida Water Management District, 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, FL, 33406, USA

    Gu Binhe

Authors
  1. Qin Boqiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhu Guangwei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhang Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Luo Liancong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Gao Guang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Gu Binhe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qin Boqiang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Qin, B., Zhu, G., Zhang, L. et al. Estimation of internal nutrient release in large shallow Lake Taihu, China. SCI CHINA SER D 49 (Suppl 1), 38–50 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-006-8104-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-006-8104-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation